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Compliments of 

Lincoln N. Kinnicutt 



INDIAN NAMES 



OF PLACES IN 

WORCESTER COUNTY 
MASSACHUSETTS 

WITH INTERPRETATIONS OF 
SOME OF THEM 



By 
LINCOLN N. KINNICUTT 



WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 
1905 



Author 
g 006 



THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS, 
WORCESTER, MASS. 



" Yozir rivers guard our ayicient na77iesy 



' ' Vojir niotuitaiyis are our monuments. 



INTRODUCTION 



MY object in writing this paper is the collecting together 
of Worcester county Indian names, which in many 
cases have been known only to the very few, who, 
having occasion to search the original deeds, have unexpectedly 
found them. It is, I think, to be regretted that the Nipmuck 
names are not more generally used. They belong to Worcester 
county, and remind us that we have a past history dating far 
back of 1620. They were the only possessions we were 
unable to take from the red man, and now they have come to us 
as residuary legatees. These names are about the only relics 
of an ancient people who once inhabited our own county. The 
Indian before we civilized him with fire-water and European 
morals was far dilf erent from the Indian of a few years ' subju- 
gation to our civilizing influences, and it is our fault rather 
than his that a more honorable place has not been accorded to 
him in the history of Massachusetts and of our whole country ; 
it is our fault, not his, that the blot on the American escutcheon 
is the Indian. 

The Nipmuck tribe, by whom these names were used, inhab- 
ited before 1620 certainly the greater part, if not the whole, of 
Worcester county, and probably their country was of much 
larger extent. The exact boundaries of their dominions have 
never been determined, and historians differ widely on this 
point. On a map compiled chiefly from a survey of 1774 their 
boundaries extended as far east as Boston and Andover, on the 
south to the boundaiy lines of Rhode Island and Connecticut, 
on the west to Stockbridge and Bennington, and on the north 
to a portion of the southern part of New Hampshire. The 
principal seat of the Nipmucks was in the neighborhood of 
Worcester. 



INTRODUCTION 



"The country of the Nipmoogs or Nipmucks is of very un- 
certain extent. Its bounds were probably never exactly under- 
stood by anybody. It was a general name for an undefined 
tract of inland country between the Merrimac and Connecticut 
rivers. ' ' (Samuel G. Drake, Old Indian Chronicle, p. 141 
note.) 

From examination of much early colonial history and from 
old deeds, I am led to believe that the Nipmucks were once a 
numerous and important people, occupying a large extent of 
country, governed by one sachem (the last possibly having been 
Nanopashamet), and probably subdivided into many smaller 
tribes. Through civil war or by combination of several of the 
neighboring tribes, their power was destroyed, and their country 
divided among the Massachusetts, the Wampanoags, the Paw- 
tuckets, the Narragansetts, and others. Some writers have 
believed the Nipmucks to have been inferior to the other Massa- 
chusetts Indians, but from what Gookin wrote about them this 
is to be doubted, and Eliot certainly must have judged them 
differently, as most of his Indian praying towns were in the 
Nipmuck country, and he selected many teachers from among 
them. In 1683 he wrote to a friend in London in regard to a 
revised edition of the Indian Bible, " we have but one man, the 
Indian printer, that is able to compose the sheets and correct 
the press with understanding. ' ' This man was James the 
Printer, from Hassanamissit (Grafton). 

I have also attempted to suggest the meaning of some of 
these names, but in the mterpretation of Indian place names so 
many difficulties have to be overcome that it is not surprising 
that the best acknowledged authorities sometimes reach very 
different conclusions in regard to the same word. Some of the 
difficulties of translation are as follows : 

The Indians had no written language. 

Their place names were spelled differently as they sounded 
to the mdividual recorder. English spelling, even of English 

6 



INTRODUCTION 



words, in deeds of the seventeenth centuiy was very capricious. 
We sometimes find a common word spelled several different 
ways in the same deed. To represent the foreign sound of a 
word spoken in a strange language is always very difficult to 
a writer. 

Differences of dialect of the various tribes. (Dr. J. H. 
Trumbull says, ' ' The Mohigans and Narragansetts had different 
names for the same birds, fish and trees, as well as for the same 
rivers, ponds and hills. ' ') 

The introduction or omissiou of a letter for the sake of 
euphony by English writers. (Dr. Trumbull also says, "The 
methods of Algonquin synthesis are so exactly prescribed that 
the omission or displacement of a consonant or emphasized 
vocal necessarily modifies the signification of a compound word, 
and may often render its interpretation or analysis impossible. ' ') 

The strange corruption of place names in old records prob- 
ably attributable to the use of an interpreter. 

In the translation of Indian names, I believe it to be very 
essential that a knowledge of the exact locality should be ob- 
tained, as it is at present, and if possible as it was in the seven- 
teenth century. Very valuable information is sometimes found 
by searching local histories and land grants ; often a local tra- 
dition or early colonial literature will furnish valuable clues. 

The Indians of New England were very practical iu their 
place names, and almost " every name described the locality to 
which it was affixed. ' ' Imagination was rarely if ever used, 
and any translation expressing this faculty must, I think, be 
taken with great caution. Our Indians used their imagination, 
however, in other words, almost poetically. Their name for 
the Pleiades was " Chippapuock, ' ' the brood hen ; for the belt 
of Orion, " Shwishacuttowwauog, ' ' a wigwam with three fires ; 
for a trap, " Appeh, " from " Up-pacheau, " he waits for him. 
In their names of many plants and flowers great imagination 
and keen observation are expressed. The Indian place names 



INTRODUCTION 



translated are in many cases similar to our English ones, but for 
the sake of euphony, if for no other reason, many of their 
originals should be retained. Quinsigamond, Wachuset and 
Hassanamesit are more euphonious than Pickerel Pond, Hill 
Town and Little Stone Place, and certainly the Indian names 
for Dead Horse pond, Mud pond. Skunk creek. Hell lake, 
Round hill. Cat brook, Snake swamp, Woodchuck hollow, etc., 
etc., are preferable and add an attribute of dignity and attract- 
iveness to these localities which, with our English names, they 
do not now possess. 

I hope that my wish to rescue some of the Nipmuck place 
names from oblivion may be accomplished by this paper, and 
possibly lead to a more general use. For our country places, 
for some of our public institutions, and for our factories on our 
various streams, they certainly lend themselves with great 
adaptability. My list, I believe, will be found very incomplete, 
for their must be many records and old deeds I have not seen, 
and I would thankfully receive any other Worcester county 
names, as I hope in the near future to publish a list of the 
Indian names in Massachusetts. 

I am greatly indebted to the publications and letters of Dr. 
J. Hammond Trumbull, and I have used, whenever possible, 
his translations and suggestions. Roger Williams ' Key to the 
Indian Language, Wood's New England's Prospect, Josiah 
Cotton's Vocabulary of the Massachusetts Indian Language, 
Dr. Albert Gallatin's Vocabularies, and Rev. Jonathan Ed- 
wards' Observations on the Mohigan Language are the authori- 
ties I have mostly consulted. 

I have included in this list a few names over the boundaries 
of Worcester county, as they properly belong to the Nipmuck 
country. 



INDIAN NAMES 



Ahampatunshauge, Ahumpatunshauge. 

Mentioned as a boundary in original deed of Rutland, March 
15, 1686-87 (Middlesex Kegistry of Deeds, book 16, page 
511) : " And so to Ahampatunshauge^ a little pond." 



AsQUoach, Ashquoash, Ashquoach. 

A hill named in the Indian deed of Brookfield. "Must 
have been south of Long Hill, at the southerly point of West 
Brookfield." 

Ashquoach was the name also of "an important Quabaug 
village often named in early records ; was situated on Indian 
Hill north of Great (now Sherman's) pond, in Brimfield, and 
a short distance from the old Brookfield line." " This town 
was distinguished for its great cornfields and its defensive fort." 
(Temple Hist, of N. Brookfield.) 

The Natick dictionary of Dr. Trumbull gives Ashquosh 
as the plural of ashq, asq, and states that ' ' the English adopted 
the plural 'Asquash ' as a singular, and formed a new plural, 
Squashes" — "Askutasquash, their vine apple, which the En- 
glish from them call Squashes." (R. W.) Possibly a final 
syllable has been lost, and the old name signified ' a place of 
vine apples.' 

Harry Andrew Wright translates Asquoach — 'Iskwa-ack' the 
ending place.' (Indian Deeds, p. 60.) 



Asnaconcomick, Asnecomcomit, Asnacomet, Corn- 
met, Comet. 

A pond in the southeastern part of Hubbardston, first men- 
tioned in an Indian deed dated Dec. 22, 1686. 



INDIAN NAMES 



Mr. Peter Whitney, in his history of the County of Worces- 
ter, in 1793, writes: "At Little Asnaconcomiok pond there is 
every appearance that once a stone wall was built, or building, 
in some places it is two feet and a half in height, as if laid up 
by the hands of men." It has "the appearance of a large 
stone wall thrown down." 

I believe the name was first applied to the place where these 
stones are, rather than to either Great or Little Asnaconcomiok 
ponds, as there is nothing in this name referring to water, 
which is almost always the case in Indian names for ponds. I 
would suggest from Hassun a stone, quon, komuck, long house 
or long enclosed place ; ' a long place enclosed with stones.' 

Little Asnaconcomiok pond is now known as Moosehorn 
pond. 

Asnebumskit, Hasnebumskitt. 

A large hill in Paxton and Holden, and a pond in Paxton. 
The pond taking the name from the hill, probably derived from 
Hassuyi, a stone, and onipsk, a standing rock, with the locative 
suffix, at or near, signifying ' the place where a large rock rises 
from stony ground.' At a prominent place on the hill this is a 
striking feature. 

In some old deeds the name is spelled Rasnehumskeat and 
Hasnehumskeag. It is generally called by the inhabitants 
'■'■ Bumskit,^^ which is an acknowledged corruption. 

Also name given to brook in Holden. 



Aspomsok. 

The Indian deed of the township of Towtaid (Leicester) 
recorded March 8, 1713-14, but made the 27th of January, 
1686, mentions this hill as one of the boundaries. 

Hon. Emory Washburn, in his history of Leicester, says 



INDIAN NAMES 



" The northern line (boundary) is assumed to be known by its 
running into a great hill called Aspomsok, which is supposed to 
be the hill now called Hasnehumskit in Paxton. 

The meaning of the name may be the same as Aspanoch, 
which Trumbull says is ' ' perhaps the equivalent of Sehonach in 
Southampton, L. I., from Sipunnah, ground nuts, Indian pota- 
toes," and formerly these plants were found in abimdance in 
this vicinity, but I believe it is another form of expressing the 
same meaning as RasnehunsJcit, both being corruptions of the 
same word, Hassun, a stone, ompsh, a standing rock, with 
the locative suffix. 

(See Asnehumskit.^ 



Assabet. 

A river rising in Berlin, Grafton, and Northboro, flows 
through Westboro, Northboro, forms the north branch of the 
Concord river. 

In the earliest records of Marlboro it is written Asabeth or 
Assabeth. In the report of the Canal Commission, about 1825, 
it is written UHzebeth, and is supposed to be a corruption of 
Elizabeth (Worcester Magazine, p. 132). 

From a publication of the Concord Antiquarian Society, by 
Mr. Adams Tolman, 1903, I quote the following: "Possibly 
the stream was named Elizabeth by some early dweller upon its 
banks, and the Indians, unable to master either the ' 1 ' or the 
'th' sounds, got as near it as they could. The Rev. N. W. 
Jones, in a pamphlet published in New York in 1867, translates 
Assabet by ' miry place, ' but he gives no derivation, and I am 
unable to find in any of the vocabularies any authority or sup- 
port for his view. Personally, I am inclined to derive it from 
Assim, meaning ' a fountain from which water is drawn for 
drinking,' and so used in Eliot's Bible; et, ut, 'it' or 'at,' — 
the sound of T preceded by an obscure vowel, — was an insep- 



INDIAN NAMES 



arable particle conveying the idea of place, Assabet, then, I 
should translate as "the stream we drink from." Higher up 
on the river I find it sometimes called Assabasset, which would 
mean " a drinking place where the water widens out." 

Possibly from Ashap, Ashappog (Cotton), net, nets, refer- 
ring to a place where nets were used for fishing. 

Assawaga, Assawogga. 

Name of river in Conn., formerly part in Massachusetts, 
now called Five Mile river. See NasJiaway. 



Calamint, Not an Indian Najvie. 

Hill m southern part of Princeton. I have been unable to 
find it mentioned in any of the old deeds or boundaries of the 
country in the neighborhood of Princeton. Tradition says that 
it was so named from the herb calamint, which was found in 
abundance on this hill. 



Augutteback. 

A pond in the western part of Oxford. 

In the division of thirty thousand acres of the original grant 
of Oxford among five individuals ' ' Augutteback ' ' pond was the 
only permanent bound mentioned. All the others were marked 
trees, heaps of stones or stakes. This deed, dated July 3, 
1698, was found m London in 1872, and is now in possession 
of the New York Hist. Soc. Cox copy is in the library of the 
Am. Anticq. Soc. in Worcester, and also printed in full in 
Amidown's Historical Collections, 1-128. Mr. Whitney gives 
the name '■'■Augootsback,'^ but I can find no authority. 

I believe that this name is a corruption of Ahkuhq-paug or 
Aueuck-pag, ' Kettle pond, ' from the fact that many soapstone 



INDIAN NAMES 



pots have been found in this vicinity, and a ledge or deposit of 
soapstone is still in existence, where many signs of Indian work 
have been discovered. From OTikuk (Narr. AucucTc) (Cotton. 
Ohkuke'), ' a pot or vessel.' 



Cataconamog, Catecunemaug, Cateconimoug, Cata- 
coonamug. 

A pond in the S. E. part of Lunenburg, and S. W. part of 
Shirley, now Shirley reservoir. Also name given to stream 
rising in the western or central part of Lunenburg ; flows 
through the pond, through Shirley into the Nashua. Probably 
from Kehclie or K"" che-quon~amaug , ' the great long fishing place.' 
As the stream, from the river to the pond, is a series of small 
ponds, this is the natural signification of the name, and probably 
was first applied to the pond, and stream between the pond and 
river. 



Chaubunakongkomuk (Eliot 1668) Chabanakong- 
komun (Gookin). 

Mrs. Freeland in her history of Oxford says, "Sometimes 
named Cliauhunagungamaug and Qliar-gog-ga-gog-man-chog-a- 
gog.''^ The Indian name for the land about Dudley and Web- 
ster ; Chaubunakungomaug^ the present name of the large pond 
in Webster. 

Dr. Trumbull says, " The name as written by Eliot means 
a boundary place," and the name of the pond meant "fishing 
place at the boundary." He also says the longer name "re- 
tains only a suggestion of its original and incorporated with it 
the name of the Indian village of Monuhchogok." 

Kekamoochaug was another name for land about Dudley, and 
possibly had about the same signification. 

13 



INDIAN NAMES 



Kuhkham, 'he marks out,' JKuhkuh heg, 'a land mark, a 
boundary. ' 

Chequapee, Chickopee, Chicabee. 

A large river in the central western part of Massachusetts 
flowing into the Conn. Whitney spells it "Chicabee" and 
describes it as the name given to the Ware river after receiving 
the Quaboag river which comes from Brookfield (page 324). 
The name is also now given to a city and county north of 
Springfield. 

Probably from " chikee "or " chekeyeu,''^ ' it rages ' or ' is 
violent, ' and ' pe ' the root of names of ' water ' in nearly all 
Algonquin dialects, 'raging or rushing water.' 

Chikkup also was the name for Cedar tree, and CMkkuppee, 
an adjective meaning 'of cedar.' Possibly the name is a cor- 
ruption of Chikhippee, auke, and was first applied to the land 
in the vicinity of the river, ' Cedar country.' 

Chesquonopog, Chesquonapoage. 

Pond in the northern part of Lancaster, "mentioned as early 
as 1660 in (Lancaster) town records . . . probably what 
is known as White's pond." (Lancastriana, Nourse, p. 9.) 

The apparent derivation is K^ che-quirme-paug, ' the great 
long pond,' but it is not characteristic of White's pond. 

Possibly the name is a corruption of Kehtequanitch, ' thumb, ' 
pog, ' pond, ' and was the name of Little Spectacle pond, from 
the resemblance to a thumb of Spectacle pond. Little Spectacle 
pond is a little over a mile from White's pond. 

Chocksett. See Woonksechocksett. 
Name of land in the vicinity of Sterling. 

14 



INDIAN NAMES 



Chockolog, Shockolog, Shokalog. 

Pond in the southwest part of Uxbridge. This word is writ- 
ten in many different ways and on the late published maps it is 
spelled Ohockaloc. Hon. Henry Chapin wrote it Shokalog. I 
do not attempt an interpretation in its present fonn but should 
suppose from its termination it originally referred to land rather 
than to water. 



Cohasset, Cohasee. 

Brook in Southbridge. The same name as the town on 
Massachusetts Bay. 

The name of the brook in Southbridge, probably came from 
the land name Cowassit, 'small or young pine land,' but the 
name of the town is given in Nason's Massachusetts Gazetteer 
as from '■'■Connohassit, which signifies ' a fishing promontory.' " 

Also Cohasset, rocks, and Oomiohassit, river — both near the 
town. The original name, however, was Conohasset (see Mass. 
Hist. Coll., vol. 2, series 3, p. 84). 

Equies. 

Brook and swamp mentioned in early history of North 
Brookfield. Possibly a corruption of Tant-equies-on, "a Mo- 
hegan captain." 

(See Ta7itousque) , or used as a boundary mark. (See 
Wequaes.) 

Hassanamiset, Hassanamesitt, Hassanamisco, Has- 
sunnimesut. 

The name of Grafton, near Worcester. Was one of the 
15 



INDIAN NAMES 



most important of the villages of the praying Indians. Gookin, 
in his "Historical Collections of the Indians in New England," 
written in 1674, says: "The name signifies a place of small 
stones," probably derived from Hassun, a stone; Haseunemes, 
a little stone, with the locative aifix, et or it. Hutchinson 
wrote the name " Hassunimesut " (Hist., vol. 1, p. 156). 

James, the Printer, who was distinguished for his assistance 
in printing the Indian Bible, being employed in setting up the 
type, was a native of Hassanamiset. 

' ' A school was established here where the Bible was read 
and studied in the Indian language. Young men were here 
educated and sent into the neighboring towns to preach the 
Gospel as Christian teachers." (Mrs. Freeland's History of 
Oxford.) 

Hassunnek. 

A name sometimes given to an overhanging rock on Stone 
house hill in Holden, from which the hill takes its name. This 
name was never used by the Indians for this locality, but 
although modern is a literal translation. 

Assinech (Hassunnek, Eliot), ' ledge of rocks.' Eliot used 
this word for any cave or den. 

Hosokie. 

A meadow mentioned as a boundary of the land of James 
Atherton in early records of Lancaster (p. 253), " buting east- 
erdly upon sum part of the Hosokie meadow." Probably a 
part of this word is lost. Asuhkane = (it comes) after. 

Hobomoco, Hobomoc. 

A pond in the northwestern part of Westborough near the 
Boston & Albany Railroad. 

i6 



INDIAN NAMES 



Hohhamoco was the Indian god of Evil, or Devil. In Wood's 
N. E. Prospect he is called Ahamocho (pt. 2, chap. 8). In 
many Indian legends his name occurs. In West Millbury there 
is a large upright flat rock called Hohhamoco'' s quoit, which by 
Indian tradition Hohhamoco attempted to throw from Wachusett 
mountain into Manchaug pond, and failed by about half a mile. 
The hill near the pond in Westboiough was supposed to be one 
of his dwelling places. 

' ' There is another pond in Westboiough which was called 
Hobhamocke, from some supposed infernal influence, which a 
man was unhappily under nigh that pond, from morning till the 
sun set" (Mass. Hist. Soc.'s Collections, series 2, vol. 10, 
p. 84). 



Kekamoochaug. See Chaubunakongkomuk. 
Kekamaquag. See Kekamowadchatjg. 
Kekamowadchaug. 

Between Woodstock and Oxford. 

Possibly this may be derived from Quequan, ' it shakes or 
trembles,' and Wadchu-auke, 'trembling-hill-place.' 

Quequan, used as a noun, an earthquake. Kwekwun (Cree), 
'it (the earth) trembles.' 

The first deed, recorded in Worcester, to Jonothan Newell is 
dated March 31, 1727, in which Joseph Edmonds "belonging 
to a farm called Kekamowadchaug between Woodstock and 
Oxford," etc. 

The first deed to William Carter is ' ' land in Kekamaquag, ' ' 
"which early settlers used in designating lands which lay to 
the west of Pegan's Hill." 

Kekamowadchaug^ Kekamaquag, Keekamoochuck, may all be 
corruptions of the same name. 

17 



INDIAN NAMES 



Kequasagansett. 

The old name of lake in eastern part of Berlin, now called 
Gates pond — at the eastern base of Sawyer hill. 
(See Kekamowadchaug .') 

Kuttatuck, Kuttutuck, Tittituck, Kittituck. 

One of the names of the Blackstone river. In Indian deed 
Feb. 10, 1681, of a tract of land which included what is now 
Oxford, to William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley ; it is de- 
scribed as '■'■ Kuttutuck or Nipmug river." 

Trumbull says : ' ' The great river called Kuttatuck or Nip- 
mug river," so named in the first deed of the Nipmuck country 
by the Natick Indians in 1681. Khetetuk means ' great ' or 
' principal ' river. ' ' 

Kehti, ' chief, principal, greatest ; ' tuk, ' a tidal or broad 
river. ' 

Lashavi^ay. 

Name given to the large outlet of Wicoboag pond, in the 
southern part of West Brookfield, about twenty or thirty rods 
in length ; emptiesin to the Quuiebaug river (Whitney's Hist. 
Co. of Worcester, page 79). 

This probably is the same name as Nashaue, and was applied 
first to the land between the river and the pond. Some of the 
Nipmucks substituted "1" for "n" of other tribe dialects. 

Mentioned in Indian deed of Brookfield, Nov. 10, 1666. 

NasJiaue-ohke^ ' the land between.' 

Maanexit, Mayanexit, Mananexit. 

A river rising in Liecester, runs through Oxford and Web- 

i8 



INDIAN NAMES 



ster, flows into the Quinnebaug at Thompson, Conn. It is 
now also called French river. 

Also name of an Indian village in or near the north part of 
Woodstock (now Thompson) . ' ' The meaning of the name is 
not known. It may have been formed from Mayano, ' there is 
a path or road,' or its participal 3Iaanog, 'where the path is,' 
since the Indian village was near the old "Connecticut Path" 
to and from Massachusetts ; but if so, the termination or affix 
is obscure ; or it may come from 3Iiyanau, ' he gathers to- 
gether, ' participal Mayanuk, ' when (or where) he gathers them 
together,' alluding to the establishment of a community of 
Christian Indians at this place." (Trumbull's Indian names in 
Conn., p. 28.) 

If this translation is correct, the name must have been given 
to the place by Eliot. 



Magomiscock. 

The highest hill in Milford. The Indians gave the name 
probably to the whole range of hills. Mr. Ballou, in his history 
of Milford, says : " The name may be rendered, 'ground afford- 
ing a grand show.' Its compounds appear to be Magho, to 
afford, give, or grant, misse, swollen, large, showy, grand, and 
ohke, earth, ground or place, literally, a high swell of land 
affording a grand prospect of the surrounding country." 

I would suggest, however, that the base word of this name 
may be " Ompsk " (standing or upright rock), var. msJc-msq ms^ 
etc., and the name might be translated, ' Great Rock Country,' 
' a place of great rocks.' Adin Ballou in his history speaks of 
the primitive ledges and the superabundance of various sized 
rocky fragments, preventing the profitable tillage of a consid- 
erable portion of the high lands (page 22). At the present 
day the quarries of Milford are celebrated. 

19 



INDIAN NAMES 



Makamacheckamucks. 

A hill in the western part of Harvard, now Prospect Hill. 
Mentioned in Lancaster Book of Lands as boundaries of home 
lots of the first settlers. 

Henry S. Nourse said, "There is but one MakamaeJiecha- 
mucks, the rock strewn hill named for the Catacoonamaug chief- 
tain." (Address before Clinton Hist. Soc, March 9, 1896.) 

In a copy of an obligation that this Indian chief gave to 
John Tinker, Feb. 13, 1656, the name is written MaJimaehecko- 
mok and 3Iamachecomak (Groton during the Indian Wars, p. 
180, Dr. Sam'l A. Green). The original is in the Middlesex 
County Court. 



Manchaug. 

Land about Oxford. 

Gookin, in 1674, speaks of Manchaugas a village of Chris- 
tian Indians in Nipmuck country, about eight miles west of 
Nipmuck river. John Eliot wrote the name '■'■Blonuhchogok^ ' 
(Mass. Archives, Indians, 1-146). 

Manchaug is now the name of a pond in the southwestern 
part of Sutton and northwestern part of Douglas, and also of the 
hills between Oxford and Sutton. 

Following the theory that Eliot named many of the Indian 
praying towns, William Wallace Tooker suggests from ' ' Menuh 
khi kook, Ye shall be strengthened" (vol. 10, p. 43, Algon- 
quian series). 



Mashamugget, Mashgmuggett, Mashamurket. 

A hill in about the centre of Charlton. 



INDIAN NAMES 



This may be the same name as given to a brook which runs 
through Pomfret, Conn., ^^Mashatnoquet,^^ and probably first 
applied to one or all of the three brooks which almost surround 
this hill. The name signifies, 'At the great fishing place,' 
maaaa, 'great,' amaug^ 'fishing place,' with the locative affix, et. 

I would suggest a corruption of 3Iassa-moskeht-aucJc, ' Great 
grass country.' 

Maspenock. 

A pond in the southwest corner of Hopkinton, and in a very 
small part of Milford, now called North pond (Indian deed of 
Feb. 19, 1691-92, Mendon Records). 

Mr. Adin Ballou, in his history of Milford, says: ^'•Maspe- 
nock literally means 'choice fishing place,' from Namas, fish or 
relating to fish, pepenam, to choose, and ohke, land, ground, 
place." (Hist, of MiHord, Ballou, p. 29.) 

The name now is also given to Mill river, which rises in 
the pond and flows through ]Mendon, Blackstone and Woon- 
socket. The Indian word '■'■ Peonogok''^ Pemaogok signified 
" Where the path is narrow," and iTiaspe'^no^w/c would probably 
mean ' the Great narrow way or path ' and certainly could well 
be applied to the long narrow valley of the Maspenock river. 



Masquabamisk. 

Mentioned as a boundary in deed of the purchase of Qua- 
baug (Brookfield), from Shattoockquis to Lieut. Thomas 
Cooper, Nov. 10th, 1665. 

" Taking in all the wet meadow and meadows called 3Ias- 
qudbamisk smd N^antojnqua ^ ^ (Mass. Hist. Coll., series 1, vol. 1, 
p. 269). 

It was the valley of Mason's brook (Temple Hist. N. Brook- 
field). 



Massequockummis. 

Boundary mentioned in deed nf n.. i. 
iror. Shattooek^uis to Lient. Thonl Coo^^^^^ ^^^ 

"Another brook where meadowt f2 Z' '"' ''''' 
1' vol. 1, p. 269.) '^uowis. (Mass. Hist. Coll., ser. 

Brookfield.) ^ ^°^' (Temple Hist, of N 



Masshapauge. 



Bond in the southern nart of T , 
'.la^e,'and,.„^,.p„,d.. This LeT "^' ^om J&„, 
little variations throuffhout M»l! t ""'="'' '^•*'' «<>me 

Connecticut, and was fppl d to Xe l"""'' ""'"'^ '^'''"^ »d 

Trumbull says &5««(, lake in m/ "*""= P™bably the same. 

itial " M " having been lost ^"^ *'"' ''^"■™'™t' *''<' - 

I believe, however, that the name of t;,- 
buig is derived from ora po„ , / tl"s Pond in Lunen- 
fi- • bad or poor Z^'ITTT "'' *^^-W, and signi- 

ponds are ver^ neafand rotSTa^f t """""-'"^ 
1750, a marsh very near thi^ n. -, . T"^' ^^^m a survey in 

nor water and partfybotl'H^s^^ ^^ "^^^-^ 

P- 760), and this name miy tt hav' T"''^ """'' ^^^^ ^' 
marshy pond. ^ '* ^^^^ ^^^n applied to the 



Matchuk. 

A meadow and brook in Brookfield. 



22 



INDIAN NAMES 



' ' There were two meadows, Great and Little Matchuk, both 
situated on Coy's Brook — '■Matchuk Brook' (probably tak- 
ing its name from the meadows) was the upper east branch of 
Coy's stream." (Temple Hist, of N. Brookfield.) 

The name probably comes from 3Iatche-auke, ' bad, ' land, 
signifying that the meadows were boggy or swampy ground. 



Menamesick, Menameset. (Menemesseg, Mass. Hist. 
Coll., series 1, vol. 6, p. 205. 

Meminimisset, brook in the west part of New Braintree. 
J. H. Temple, in history of North Brookfield, says: "In 
1675 the able bodied warriors of the Quabaug clans suddenly 
left their ancestral towns and concentrated at the Mename- 
seek Country, in the north part of New Braintree and adjacent 
part of Barre." " They built three towns on the Ware (^Me- 
nameseek^ river." " The lower of these towns was on an island, 
a plot of dry land surrounded by wet swamp on the easterly side 
of Wenimisset brook." 

jNIr. Temple also says : ' ' The Indian name of this stream 
signifies ' Great fishing basket ' or ' Fishing weir,' and their vil- 
lage or villages built on the banks would be 3Ien-a-7ne-seek-et, 
contracted Menameset, now more often written 3Ieminimisset or 
Wenimisset .'' ^ This was the place of Mrs. Rowlandson's second 
remove, and here she buried her murdered child in Feb., 1676. 

Menamesick seems to have been the name of the river in 
1686 (Hampden Co. Rec, liber D, folio 237); Menemesseg, 
the name of the three Indian towns in 1675 (James Quana- 
paug's Information, Mass. Hist. Coll.), and Winnimissett \hQ 
present name of the brook flowing into Ware river. 

Menomee. 

Mentioned in registration of land in Winchendon. 

23 



INDIAN NAMES 



This may be another form or corruption of Monomonack, 
lake, or possibly llenomes, the diminutive, referring to that part 
of the great lake, which is almost a little pond in itself, in 
which is Pe kese Island. (See Monomonack.^ 



Metewemesick. 

"An Indian settlement near Sturbridge, 'Place of black 
earth,' from the occurrence of the article." (Wm. Wallace 
Tooker, Algonquian series, vol. 8, p. 33.) 

Miscoe. 

Brook near the eastern boundary of Grafton. This name 
without doubt is a corruption of Hassanamisco, and is compara- 
tively modern, although named for an Indian. George's hill, 
which is very near it, was so called from George Miscoe, who 
lived there, and the brook is called George's brook in the His- 
tory of Grafton by Pierce in 1879. 

(See Massanameset.') 

Miscoe, Misquoe, Miskee. 

A hill in the northwestern part of Mendon and in Upton. 
Whitney's History gives the two last spellings. Possibly from 
Mishadchee 3IisJichoo, meaning 'great hill.' 

Moantuhcake. 

A hill near Washacum. 

Mentioned in Indian deed of Quanapaug, alias James Wiser, 
to John Prescott, 1669, "the hill beinge called by the name of 
Bloantuheake.'' (From Shattuck Manuscripts in possession of 
the New England Genealogical Society.) 

24 



INDIAN NAMES 



Mocassin. 

A brook, whicli rises in the southern part of Phillipston, 
flows into Petersham, and empties into Rutland brook. 

Mokur, Mokis, 3Iokkussin was the Indian name for shoe. 

(PZ. 31okku8sinas}i) "made of their deer skin worn out." 
(R. W.) 

This name was probably given to the brook by the early 
settlers, not by the Indians, as it is not descriptive or in any 
way pertaining to water. Many Indian names are misused in 
this manner. 



Mohaw^k. 

Name of brook and of two hills in North Brookfield. 

Mohawk brook in North Brookfield ran between the two 
Mowhawk hills, and into Sucker brook (Temple, Hist, of North 
Brookfield, p. 15). Named from the Mohawk tribe of Indians, 
the head of the five nations, formerly on Mohawk river. The 
name signifies Man-eaters, from "woAa?t," 'he eats what is 
alive,' "moho," 'to eat alive.' (R. W.) 



Monomonack. 

A lake m Rindge, N. H., a small part extending into 
Winchendon. 

From the termination of this name in its present form it 
seems to have been applied first to the land, or country, about 
the lake, ack, from auke, signifying 'place' or 'land.' 

The Indian name Monomansuonk signified 'a vision,' and 
moneam 'he looks upon,' or 'he beholds it.' Possibly this 
name may come from the same root, and signifies ' the outlook 

25 



INDIAN NAMES 



place.' Ezra S. Stearns says, in his history of Rindge, that the 
name is supposed to be derived from Monan or Menan, ' an 
island' (Hist, of R., p. 15). If so, it maybe a corruption of 
Mumiohan-auke, meaning 'island place.' 
(See Monoo77iock.y 



Monoosnoc, Monoosuck. 

Hills in the northwestern part of Leominster and southern 
part of Fitchburg. Also name of the brook which rises at the 
hill and runs southeasterly through the town of Leominster. 
In Whitney's History it is called WauhnoosnooJc (page 197). 
Probably the hill took the name from the brook. I would sug- 
gest Monoi or 3Ioonoi-8uck, 'deep brook.' The ^'•Monoosuck 
mils ' ' are mentioned several times in Early Records of Lan- 
caster. 



Mossonachud. 

Boundary hill mentioned in the Indian deed of Towtaid 
(Leicester), " and from thence to a little hill called J/ossowa- 
chud."" Jan., 1686. 

Mtishoon-achu-et would signify at ' Canoe Hill, ' possibly the 
place where the trees for canoes came from. 

Mussoonk-adehu, ' Hill covered with dry trees. ' ^ 



Muschopauge, Muscopauge, Mustapauge. 

A large pond in the eastern part of Rutland. Also name 
of a hill in its vicinity. 

The pond is first mentioned in the Indian deed of 1686 
(recorded Reg. of Deeds, Middlesex Co., vol. 16, p. 511) as 
^^ Muscaj)auge.''^ 

26 



INDIAN NAMES 



This name may be from Moskeht, paug, 'grassy pond,' and 
the same word signifies herbs, and medicine. Mr. Jonas Reed, 
in his History of Rutland, says:" On Muschopage Hill there is a 
place of roots and herbs called the Indian garden," or more 
T^Tohoblj iiom Musquash-paug or MoosJcou-paug, 'muskrat pond.' 



Mulpus. 

A brook. Rises in the northwestern part of Lunenburg, 
flows thi'ough northern Lunenburg and through Shirley into the 
Nashua. Some historians believe it to be an Indian name, but 
Rev. Seth Chandler in his History of Shirley writes: "tradi- 
tion saith that it derived its name from a Frenchman by the 
name of Mulipus, who lived in Lunenburg, near its source" 
(p. 33). 



Musshauge, Musehauge. 

Mentioned in the Indian deed of Rutland as one of the 
boundaries in 1686. It is there specified as " a great swamp." 
The derivation may possibly be from Matehe-auJce, 'bad land,' 
or Moskehtauge, ' grass land.' 

Nacommuck. 

Brook in Brookfield flowing into the Quaboag river, very 
near the outlet of Quaboag pond — now Moore 's brook. 

It is quite probable that the brook takes its name from a 
point of land running into the pond, or a point of land between 
the river and the brook — from Naiag, point or corner, and 
Komuk an inclosed place. In Indian deed of Brookfield, Nov. 
10, 1665, it is mentioned as " brook where meadow is." (Mass. 
Hist. Coll., vol. 1, p. 269, series 1.) I should suppose it 

27 



INDIAN NAMES 



meant an enclosed point of land. Komuk or variation Commuck 
was often used for long house, or long enclosed place. 



NaggaAVOomcom, or "Great Pond." 

Pond in the northern part of Westborough, now Chauncy 
pond. " It was by the Indians anciently termed Naggawoomcom 
or Great Pond" (Mass. Hist. Soc. Collections, 2nd series, vol. 
10, p. 84.) 

Naltaug. 

Boundary in Indian deed of Quaboag, Nov. 10, 1665. 

" To a brook or stream called Naltaug " (Mass. Hist. Coll., 
ser. 1, vol. 1, page 269). 

'■'■Naultaug was Dean's brook in Warren " (Temple Hist, of 
N. Brookfield). 



Nanantomqua. See Masquabamisk. 

' ' Was the meadow and low land lying south of the river 
and southwest of the Quabaug pond " (Temple Hist, of N. 
Brookfield) . 

Naquag. 

A general name for the territory now comprising Rutland, 
Oakham, Hubbardston, Barre and parts of Princeton and Pax- 
ton. Mentioned in Indian deed of March 15th, 1686-87, and 
recorded 1714 (Middlesex Reg. of Deeds, book 16, page 511). 
Possibly the same as Naiyag, an angle or corner, and used by 
the Indians as a boundary. (Naig^ ' pomt corner. ') 



28 



INDIAN NAMES 



Natty. 

Pond in Hubbardston. 

If this is an Indian name it has been much corrupted. Pos- 
sibly from Nehtippaen or Natippaen . ' It is covered with 
water. ' 

^^ Natty pond, northeast from the village is small in extent, 
and so surrounded by bushes and wet boggy meadows that it 
is not a place of much resort" (Stowe Hist, of Hubbardston, 
p. 5). 



Nashaway, Nashaue, Nashawogg, Lancaster. 

From Washaue-ohke, ' the land between, ' and in this place 
referred to the land between the branches of the river. The 
name was transferred to the river itself. We find this root in 
many Indian names in various localities, mutilated sometimes in 
many ways. Ashaivog, Assaivog, Natchaug probably conveyed 
about the same idea. Shawamug meant the half-way fishing 
place. 

2. Ancient name of land near Questnatisset between 
QuLNEBAUG and French Town rivers, now in Conn. 



Naukeag, Naukheag. 

Name in early records applied to the neighborhood of Ash- 
burnham. Now the name of two ponds in Ashburnham called 
in Whitney 's History of Worcester County, Great and Little 
Naukheag, but on modern maps Upper and Lower Naukeag. 

This may be from Noohki-auke, ' soft land; ' or possibly a 
corruption of Nagout-auke, ' sand place.' 

' ' On the banks of Little Naukheag is a white sand equal in 

29 



INDIAN NAMES 



fineness and whiteness to that on the banks of Cape Anne ' ' 
(Whitney's Hist, of Wore. Co., p. 266). 



Neesepegesuck. 

Name of two small ponds in the southern central part of 
Ashby, now called Wright's ponds. This name, with very little 
doubt, is a corruption of Neese-pmig-suck ^= 'two pond brook,' 
the ponds taking the name from the brook which is now called 
Pearl brook. 



Nemoset. 

Mountain between Ashby and Ashbumham. In this form 
I can make no translation. There is a slight suggestion of the 
word Nammiogset, Name-auk-set, 'near the fishing place,' and 
there are several ponds in its close vicinity. It is now known 
as Blood hill. 



Nichewaug, Nichewoag, Nitchawog. 

A village in the southwestern part of Petersham, and the 
original name of land about Petersham. 

" It had been a seat for Indians, and was called many years 
by its Indian name, which was Nichewaug.'''' (Whitney's Hist, 
of Worcester Co.) It apparently was an important settlement, 
one of the Indian trails from Lancaster divided at the foot of 
" Great Wachusett,^' one branch on the north and the other on 
the south side of the mountaia, but both leading to Nichewaug. 

I believe this name has the same derivation as Nashawag, 
Nashaway, Ashawog and Natchaug, viz., Nashau-auke, ' the land 
between.' If the name was first applied to the land about the 
present village of Nichewaug, it is appropriate, as the place is 



INDIAN NAMES 



completely surrounded by brooks, with the exception of a small 
boundary on the east. 

Or a corruption from Neeshepaivog , Neesh (two) and paug 
(corrupted often to Pmvog') (pond). There are two small 
ponds very near together in this part of Petersham. 

Neeshauog, 'Eels.' 

Neeseponset. 

Large pond in the northeast corner of Dana. 

Possibly this may be a corruption of Neese-paugset, ' near 
the two ponds.' The pond in the present condition is long and 
very narrow in one part. Formerly it might have been two 
ponds, or the name might have referred to Neeseponset pond 
and to Thompson's pond in New Salem, there being a very short 
distance between the two. 



Nipmuck, Nipmug, Nipnet. 

A tribe of Indians. The territory of the Nipmuck Indians. 
The country of the Nipmucks is of very uncertain extent. 
Drake says " its bounds were probably never exactly understood 
by anybody." From another historian's account, "The Nip- 
net region extended from Marlborough to the south end of 
Worcester county, and around by the Brookfields through 
Washakins to the northern boundaries of the state." 

Dr. Trumbull defines the name : ' ' From nippe, ' fresh water ; ' 
nip-amaug, ' fresh water fishing place ; ' Nippinet, ' in a place 
of water or well watered. ' 

'■'■Nipmucks, i. e., fresh water fishermen, was a general name 
for the inland Indians between eastern ^Massachusetts and the 
valley of the Connecticut. Their principal seats were north of 
the county line in Worcester county, Mass., and along Nip- 
muck (now Blackstone) river. ' ' 

31 



INDIAN NAMES 



Nipmnclc, Nipnet were also names for the Blackstone river. 
Nipmug^ one of the original names of the country about Men- 
don ; also the present name of a large pond in western central 
part of Mendon, from which probably the plantation takes its 
name. Also name of pond N. E. part of Webster. 



Nonacoicus, Nonecoicus, Nanajcoyijcus. 

A farm, brook and pond N. W. comer of Harvard, and the 
S. W. part of Aver. Dr. Saml. A. Green found a writing 
probably relating to this name, in a book once owned by Judge 
Sewall, and I quote part of a paper he read before the Mass. 
Hist. Soc, " On a fly leaf at the beginning of the book is the 
following note in Judge Sewall "s handwriting, ' Nunacoquis sig- 
nifies an Indian earthem pot, as Hannah, Hahatan's squaw, 
t^lls me, March 24, 169 1, ' which throws some light on the 
meaning of an Indian word. . . . ' " Dr. Green also read 
a letter received by him from George J. Bums, Esq., of Aver, 
part as follows : '• Xear the mouth of the Xonacoicus brook there 
is a succession of irregular ridges or small hills which surround, 
or inclose, various hollows or basins ' ' (Mass Hist. Soc. Records, 
vol. 8, 2nd series, pages 209-10-11). 

From this I believe the original name may have been Xunae 
oTihik-es-et . Xunae, ' dry, ' • at the small dry earth pots, " or 
possibly • at the small earth pots where water sifts through, ' 
derived from Xanah-kinig, a sieve. 

Xunae- CowaivesucJc, or nunae kooiras, ' dry pines. ' 



Nookagee, Nockege. 

Name of a small stream, now Phillips brook, rising in Ash- 
bumham and flowing into the "North Branch" Nashua river 
at West Fitchburg. This name, however, is supposed to have 

32 



INDIAN NAMES 



been the original name of the North Branch. Noekege Mills at 
Fitchburg. In early records '■'■ Naukeag ' ' was the name for the 
land about or near Ashburnham, and probably from this land 
name the water name was taken. 
(See Naukeag.') 

Ockoocangansett. 

' ' The Indian name for the hill back of the old meeting- 
house in Marlborough" (Hist, of Northborough, Wore. Mag., 
vol. 2, pp. 132-141). 

' ' Hutchinson quoting from Eliot writes it Ogguonikongqua- 
mesut (p. 156, vol. 1). Gookin, in 1674, wrote it Okommaka- 
meait. ' ' 

This hill had been used as a planting field by the Indians 
probably for many years before our knowledge of the country. 
It was deeded to Daniel Gookin by the Indians in 1677, and is 
described in the deed by them as ' ' being broken up and planted 
by us and our predecessors. " 

The true interpretation of the name I believe to be very 
doubtful, but ' at the planting field ' may be very near its mean- 
ing — ' ' ohkeehkonat, " ' to plant. ' ' ' Ohkehkonittinneat, " to be 
planted (Cotton, p. 209). 

Mr. Wm. Wallace Tooker, in his very careful analysis of 
names of some of the Indian praying towns, finds that several 
were of Eliot 's naming, and gives it the meaning of "at the 
place numbered to come upon ; that is to say, a place numbered 
among those regularly visited by Eliot ' ' (Algonquian series, 
vol. 10, p. 39). 

Packachoog, Pakachoag, Boggachoag. 

A hill in the southeastern part of the city of Worcester. 
Lincoln, in his history of Worcester, gives twelve different 

33 



INDIAN NAMES 



A name misapplied to Qudbaug pond in Brookfield. Origin- 
ally it was a small meadow, given as one of the boundaries in 
Indian deed of Brookfield, Nov. 10, 1665. Mr. J. H. Temple, 
in his History of North Brookfield, says : " The name signified 
' Place of burning, ' i. e., burning captives. " (Page 28.) 

2. A brook in So. Windsor, Conn. 

3. Potunk, a part of Shinnecock bay, in Southampton, L. 
I. ' Place where the foot sinks' (Wm. Wallace Tooker), and 
I think probably the same translation applies to Podunk. 

Pompociticut and Shabbukin. 

" Were the names for land about Stow from two notable 
hills." (Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., vol. 10, series 2, p. 83.) 

Pomagusset. 

Brook rising in the N. E. part of Rutland, flowing west into 
Ware river. Also name of a meadow through which the brook 
runs. 

This may be a corruption of Pummee-kussehtanip, which 
would mean ' oily brook ' or ' stream, ' or Pummech kussehtanip, 
' a stream going across or crossing ' (some path or trail) . 

Pompv^anganug, Pomponagang. 

Formerly in Massachusetts. Hill between Woodstock and 
Thompson, very near the Massachusetts line. (Miss Larned's 
map in History of Windham Co.) 

Ponikin, Ponnakin. 

(See Quassaponikin.^ 

Name now given to a hill in the N. E. part of Charlton, near 

36 



INDIAN NAMES 



Little river. Probably means, 'The fording place, ' or ' The 
shallow place. ' (See Quassaponikin.^ 

Panoquin was the name of a Narragansett who aided in the 
attack on Lancaster in February, 1675, purchasing Mrs. Row- 
landson of the Narragansett who captured her at that time (R. 
I. Hist. Coll., 3, p. 173). 

Poohookapog, Pookookappog, Poohpoohsaug. 

Or Alum pond. In the northwest corner of Sturbridge. 
This pond was in the original tract of land of 1,000 acres given 
to the Rev. John Eliot by the Indians (see Wallum). On a 
map made from a survey of this land June 2, 1725, this entry 
is made : ' ' The name Poohpoohsaug or Alum pond signifies cats 
and dogs in the Nipmuck tongue. " From another source "It 
has been ascertained that both these names are of native dialect ; 
Alum signifies dog, and Poohookapog is a corruption of the word 
that signifies cats, Poohpoohsnog, cat i^ Poopoh." (Amidon's 
Hist. Coll., page 11, vol. 2.) 

Popoloup. 

An island in Monomonack lake, N. E. part of Winchendon. 

Poquaig, Payquaoge. 

(Worcester Magazine.) Indian name of land about Winch- 
endon, also of Athol, and of Miller's river, which rises m 
Minomee pond in Winchendon, flows through Royalston and 
Athol. 

This name originally must have applied to the land about 
the river, and it is undoubtedly derived from Pauqu ^unauke, sig- 
nifying ' cultivated land ; ' ' cleared land. ' This name is found 
frequently with slightly varying form. In Whitney's History 

37 



INDIAN NAMES 



of Worcester County it is spelled Bayquage. As the Indian 
name of land near Athol it is given Pequag, Payquage, Pequiog. 

Pottapoug. 

Pond and hill in the S. W. part of Dana — outlet into 
Chicopee river. Pautapaug denotes a bay or cove that has a 
narrow inlet from a river or the sea. The literal meaning is a 
"bulging out " or ' jutting' of the water inland. (Trumbull.) 
The hill probably took the name from the pond. 

Potepog, Potepaug, Potebaug. 

A stream and meadow in Brookfield. This name, although 
very like the preceding, is probably the same as Pootajmiig, 
signifying a boggy or swampy land, ''Pe-to-heg," 'a bog' 
(Schoolcraft). 

Mr. Levi B. Chase states that the name in Brookfield comes 
from the " Putikookuppoggs, Indians," which is the old name 
made shorter and pronounceable." The home of this small 
tribe was probably in a group of four or five villages near Fisk- 
dale. 

Ouabagud (Eliot, 1649), Quabacutt. 

"The other large and permanent Quabaug village within 
our present town limits which became noted in our annals was 
located in the east part of Brookfield, at the southeasterly end 
of Quabaug Pond. " (Temple Hist, of N. Brookfield.) 

(See Quaboag.') 

Quabaug, Quebaog, Queboag, Quoboag, Beookfield. 

Name of a large pond and river in Brookfield. Eliot wrote 

it in 1649 as " Quobagud. " This may be a corruption of 

38 



INDIAN NAMES 



Quehaquaug, which Trumbull says from Aquehapaug^ Aquabe- 
paug-mike, may mean either land 'before the pond' or the 
' pond before ' some other pond or some tract of land. Dr. 
Parsons, in his Indian Names of Connecticut, gives Aquabapaug^ 
a pond in Connecticut near the head of Paucatuck river, as 
meaning 'muddy water.' 

Quaboag Lane, " One of the oldest ways in the town of Ox- 
ford ; perhaps originally an Indian trail was the ' ' Quaboag ' ' 
or Brookfield "Lane," which fording the river at the stone 
arch bridge entered the 8-rod way from the west. ' ' (Daniels, 
History of Oxford.) 

J. H. Temple, in his history of North Brookfield, says, 
"There is little doubt that the name of our place, as pro- 
nounced by the Indians, was Squapauke or Squahaug. It is a 
compound word which signifies ' red water place ' or ' red 
pond, ' so called from the reddish, iron stained gravel which 
forms the bottom and shores of the several ponds. " " Some of 
the early spelling was Squabauge, Squdbage.^^ In "New Eng- 
land's Prospect" written in 1634, ^^ Squi" is translated Ted,' 
therefore, Squi-baiig. Quabaug river is formed by rivers from 
Oakham and Rutland which unite in Brookfield. 

Ouacumouasit. 

A pond between Sturbridge and Brookfield, south of Quo- 
boag pond, by which it is connected by a canal, now called 
South pond. Possibly the name of a Quabaug sachem men- 
tioned in a letter from William Pynchon to Gov. Wmthrop 
written in 1648, although the name is there written '■'•Quacun- 
quasit. ' ' 

Quag. 

Pond in the S. E. part of Gardner, one of the sources of 
Pew brook. 

39 



INDIAN NAMES 



In this form I believe the name must be much corrupted, or 
a part of it is lost. In its present form the nearest approach to 
an interpretation might be Koo-auhe or Koo-ag, ' pine tree land. ' 

Also name given to Waushacum pond, Sterling. 

Ouanltick. 

Mentioned as one of the boundaries in the Indian deed of 
Rutland, dated Dec. 22, 1686 (Jonas Reed, Hist, of Rutland, 
p. 9). 

Possibly a corruption of Qunnuhqui-tugh, ' tall tree ' that 
served as a landmark ; or from Quinni — variations Quan, 
Quon (long) and tugk — variations Tuk, Tak (tree), 'a long 
tree. ' 

In a certified copy of this deed of Rutland, from the Middle- 
sex Co. Records in Cambridge, the name is written Quenibeck. 

Ouasaponikin. Corruption Ponikest. 

A hill in the N. E. part of Lancaster, also the same name 
given to a meadow and brook in the early records of the town. 
A village in Lancaster is now called Ponikin. I believe this 
name applied first to a shallow part of the river near where the 
brook enters the Nashua. The Northern Indians have the 
word " Poonichuan," " where the current stops. ' ' The Natick 
dialect has "Ponquag, " "a ford, " also " Penaekinnu, " "it 
spreads," and Josiah Cotton gives Pongqui as "shallow," in 
his vocabulary. Dr. Trumbull says in his definition of " Quas- 
sapaug^^^ '•'■ K'chepaug," "greatest pond," a name easily cor- 
rupted to Quassapaug." (Trumbull, I. N. Conn., p. 59). 
Quassaponikin, corrupted from k'che-ponquag-in, would mean, 
"At the greatest fording place." 

Probably same name in Groton, would signify a fording 
place. Although the name in Groton is spelled Quosopanagon, 
the name of a meadow, " on the other side of the river. " 

40 



INDIAN NAMES 



Ouassuck, Ouassink. 

Now Lead Mine pond in the western part of Sturbridge, 
mentioned in letter of William Pynchon to Stephen Day in 
1644, "that place of Quassuck. " I should suppose the name 
was applied first to Lead Mine brook from its termination, 
"suck," which signifies "a stream flowing out of a pond or 
lake." (Trumbull.) 

Quas-suck, the largest outlet. Possibly derived from Qus- 
suk, with a lost locative suffix, et or ut, signifying, ' at the 
rock.' This was the Black Lead Mine property of which John 
Winthrop, Jr., eldest son of Gov. John Winthrop, received a 
grant from the General Court in 1644. The existence of this 
lead was known as early as thirteen years after the landing of 
the Pilgrims. (See Tantiusques.') 

Possibly ' Pine tree brook, ' Cowawsuch. 



Ouinebaug. 

A river which rises in the town of Brimfield, in the county 
of Hampshire, and runs east into the county of Worcester 
through Sturbridge, Southbridge and Dudley, mto Connecticut. 

A long pond in the S. E. part of Killingly, Conn. The 
Quinebaug tribe of Indians and the river took their name from 
the pond. Qunnubhagge (Gov. Endicott, 1651) — Qidnihauge 
(Comi. Col. Rec, 1671) — Quimii-paug, 'long pond.' 

This name, with slight variations, is found often in the New 
England States. 

The land south of Wabbaquassit and Mahmunsqueeg, now 
included in the towns of Plainfield and Canterbury, Conn., was 
the Quinebaug country inhabited by the Quinebaugs (Miss 
Larned, History of Windham Co., vol. 1, p. 2). 

41 



INDIAN NAMES 



Ouinepoxet. 

Name of a pond in Princeton and Holden, and also of a 
river, and hill in Holden. The river and hill probably taking 
the name from the pond ; ' ' appears to be a corruption of the 
diminutive of Quinebaug^ with the local affix ; Quinni-paug-es-et, 
' at the little long pond. ' ' ' (Trumbull.) 



Ouinetusset, Quantisset, Quanutusset (Eliot). 

An Indian praying village in Thompson, Conn., now 
Thompson hill. The ruins of an old Indian fort stood on this 
hill in 1727. Miss Larned gives the name Quinnatisset. 

On the theory that some of the Indian praying towns were 
of Eliot's naming William Wallace Tooker gives Quanutuss- 
es-et as its probable etymology " at the place long my supply " 
or " I have long supplied." (Algonquian series, vol. 10, p. 
42.) I would suggest Quinne-tuckset, 'near the tall tree, ' as a 
possible translation. 



Ouinshepaug, Mendon and Milford. 

In Barber 's Historical Collections it is stated that Nipmug 
seemed to be the original name of Mendon, but in 1667 it was 
called Quinshepauge. It seems probable that both names were 
originally given to the pond now called Tuft's pond. Nipmug 
Nippe, ' fresh water, ' amaug, ' fishing place. ' Quinshepaug 
probably either from k'che-paug, i. e., 'greatest pond,' as it 
certainly is the largest pond in that part of the county, or from 
Qunuosuog-amaug, 'Pickerel fishing place ' (see Quinsigamond') . 



42 



INDIAN NAMES 



Ouinsigamond, Ouansigemog, Quansigamaug, 
Ouansigamug. 

Original name of Worcester. A small lake or large pond 
between Worcester and Shrewsbury ; also the name of a village, 
taking its name from the lake, forming part of Worcester, from 
Qunnosuog-amaug , "the pickerel (or long nose) fishing place. " 
Even at the present day this lake is noted for its pickerel 
fishing. 

Mr. William Lincoln, in his history of Worcester, gives 
nine different forms of this name, all taken from old deeds, etc. 
Worcester, in the edition of Hubbard's Narrative, published in 
1677, is described as " a village called Quonsigamog. ' ' 

Also the original name of land about Hopkinton. 

Also name of small river in Grafton. 

Ouissitt, Ouissett. 

A hill in the N. E. part of Blackstone and in Mendon. In 
this form the interpretation is only tentative, as probably the 
name is much corrupted. Possibly Ko-oeset, from Ko-owa or 
Koo, ' pine tree, ' with the diminutive es, and the locative suffix 
et. (^Cu-we, 'pine tree,' Del.) 

Cowisick, the ancient name of Blackwell's brook in Wind- 
ham Co., Conn. 

Ouitemug or Nipmuck. 

A hill in Dudley about a mile and a half S. E. of Dudley 
hill. 

In 1630, upon receiving a message from the English that 
they were much in need of corn, John Quittamug carried a 
bushel and a half on his back to Boston. He again visited 
Boston in 1724, and was supposed to be then 112 years old 

43 



INDIAN NAMES 



(Hutchinson, Hist, of Mass., vol. 2, p. 276, note). He lived 
near the hill which bears his name. 



Saccarappa. 

Name now given to a pond and the land about it in the S. 
E. part of Oxford. 

This name was not used in the locality until after 1845. 
The wife of a Mr. Peters who lived here came from Saccarappa, 
Maine, and it was named in her honor (Daniels ' Hist, of Ox- 
ford). 

Sagatabscot. 

A hill in the southeastern part of Worcester, probably from 
siogke, ' hard, ' ompsk, ' rock, ' and the local a£Qx signifying 
' the place of hard rock. ' 

A quarry was extensively worked on the south end of Saga- 
tabscot hill for many years. It was on this hill that Digory 
Serjent lived about 1695, and where he was killed by the In- 
dians in 1703 or 1704. 

" The prefix sioge and soggoh of Eliot, ' hard' (Abm. saaghi. 
Chip. Sougi) distinguishes the kind of stone most used by the 
Indians for making axes, lance heads, pestles, etc. ' ' (Trum- 
bull.) 

Sasagookapaug. 

A pond mentioned as a boundary in the original Indian deed 
of Hardwick in 1686, "easterly the southermost corner upon a 
pond called Sasagookapaug. " 

This name may be from Sesegkpaug or Sesekqpaug, • adder 
pond' — Sesequaog, ' adders or poisonous adders. ' Suckachgook, 
'black snake' (Del.). 

44 



INDIAN NAMES 



Sasaketasick, Sassakataffick. 

Mentioned as a boundaiy in the original deed of Rutland, 
March 15, 1686-87 (Middlesex Regs, of Deeds, book 16, p. 
511), "So to Sasaketasick which is the south corner. " 

Sesek^ 'Rattlesnake' (R. W.), Seasicke (Wood). 

Senexet. 

"Valley and meadow land adjoining Muddy Brook in 
Woodstock, " Connecticut, but formerly in Massachusetts, 
north of the Woodward 's and Saffrey 's line. Near Pomponagang 
hill. (On ancient map of Windham Co., vol. 1, Miss Larned.) 

Shabikin, Shabokin, Chaboken, etc. 

The early name of a tract of land in the N. W. part of Har- 
vard, formerly a part of Stow Leg. I believe this name must 
have been originally Chepiohkin . ' ' Ohepiolike, ' ' the Indian name 
for " hell, " "the place apart," "the place of separation," 
with the locative suffix, in or en. A curious indication that 
this was the original signification is the fact that the pond in 
this tract of land has always been called ' Hell Pond. ' 

'■'■Shahikin seems to have been the original designation of 
that portion of Stow Leg which includes Hell pond. ' ' (Nourse, 
Hist, of Harvard, p. 72.) 

' ' The pioneers always called it Hell Pond, and so it is re- 
corded in the worn and yellow documents of their day that have 
come down to us. ' ' (Nourse, Hist, of Harvard, p. 66.) 

Souhegan, Sowhagon. 

River rising in the ponds of eastern Ashburnham, flows 
through the N. W. part of Ashby into New Hampshire. 

45 



INDIAN NAMES 



In Livermore and Putnam 's History of Wilton the mean- 
ing is given as " ' River of the Plains, ' derived from the Indian 
name '■Siisheki, ' signifying a plain. Another derivation is from 
the Indian word '•Souhegenoe ' meaning Crooked. ' ' I fail to find 
other authorities for these derivations. 



Squabaug. (See Quaboag.) 

Squannacook. 

A river which rises in the northern part of Townsend, forms 
the boundary between Shirley and Groton, and flows into the 
Nashua. Possibly the name is a corruption of Squamicuk, which 
would mean salmon place — ^^jn'squamaug," 'salmon,' and 
'■^auke,'' 'place,' or with ^'■ut" would signify the 'place for 
taking salmon. ' We know from early records there were many 
salmon in these rivers. 

Also name of a village in W. part of Groton. 

A very similar name is found in Rhode Island. 

Squannakonk, a swamp in Rehoboth, where Annawon was 
captured by Capt. Church, 1676. "Mr. Drake says (edition 
of Mather's Brief History, p. 180) this name probably signifies 
' Swamp of night, ' "but Dr. Trumbull wrote, "I can make noth- 
ing of this name ; it is certainly corrupted, and has lost at least 
one (initial) syllable." (Church's Philip's War, part 1, page 
163, note.) 

Sumpauge. 

A pond, one of the boundaries in Indian deed of Rutland 
(Middlesex Record of Deeds, dated Dec. 22, 1686, entered 
Apr. 14, 1714, libro 16, page 511). 

Sumhup was the Indian name for beaver. Roger Williams 
gives Sumhuppaug as the plural (page 95), ' Beaver pond.' 

46 



INDIAN NAMES 



Tahanto. 

I believe the name was suggested by the Hon. Henry S. 
Nourse for the Indian name now given to a private country 
place in Harvard. 

George Tahanto, the name of an Indian Sagamore, nephew 
of Sholan, the great Sachem of the Nashaways. Both of these 
names are mentioned several times in the early records of Lan- 
caster. " Nov. 6, 1702, a petition of the Town of Lancaster 
praying liberty to purchase of George Tahanto, Indian Saga- 
more, a certain tract of land, " etc. (Massachusetts Records.) 
A part of Harvard was taken from Lancaster. 

Tantousque, TantiusQues. 

The name by which the mineral region, now in Sturbridge, 
was known in 1644. (Amidon's Hist. Coll.) 

Probably a corruption of the name of an Indian " Mohegan 
captain " mentioned in Winthrop's Hist, of New England. 
^^Tantiquieson." (Page 464, note N.) 

"A Moheague captain, " Tantoquieson (Drake). Levi 
B. Chase in Quinabaug Historical Society Leaflets, No. 7, says 
that the translation of the word is "between breast-shaped 
hiUs." 

Tataesset, Tataeset. (See Tatnuck, Tatnick. ) 

Lincoln, in his history of Worcester, says, page 17: "The 
western hills, bearing originally the appellation of Tataeset, cor- 
rupted, in common use, into Tatnuck, were occupied by smaller 
hamlets, ' ' etc. I think probably these are two separate 
names, as the same name, Tatnick, was given to a hill and 
brook in Brooklyn, Conn., and in this form is translatable, — 

47 



INDIAN NAMES 



and if so I would suggest that the name, Tataesset, was the hill 
and land ahout the Cascade, and is derived from Tattan-hassun 
and the locative affix, signifying 'At the place of the rocking 
(shaking) stone, ' as on the plateau at the top of the Cascade 
there is a very large boulder weighing many tons that tra- 
dition says could be moved or rocked by very slight pressure. 
The rock is now split in two, but even in its present condition 
it is well known. 



Tatnuck, Tatnick. 

A village in the western part of Worcester. Also name of 
the brook at the same place, the town and brook taking 
the name from the hill. Dr. Trumbull says, "probably from 
k 't-adene-k, ' at the great hill ' (the equivalent of Katahdin 
with locative affix ; or perhaps Wut-aden-ek, ' at the hill. ' ' ' 

Hill and brook in the southwestern part of Brooklyn, Conn., 
the same name, " Tatnick. ' ' 



Titicut, Tittituck. 

Keh-teih-tuk-qut (Eliot Bible, Gen. XV : 18, "on the great 
river ") . (See Kuttatuek . ) 



To'wtaid, Leicesteb. 

With very little doubt this name is a corruption of T^ohteck 
or Act-ohteak, and signifies, ' At the open (or cultivated) field. ' 
The early settlers of Leicester found on Bald hill, which is in 
the easterly part of the town, a little N. W. from the village of 
Cherry Valley, a large field cleared and cultivated by the In- 
dians. (Washburn's Hist, of Leicester, p. 21.) 
(See Wataquadock.') 



INDIAN NAMES 



Uncachew^alunk, Unkachewalunk, Kachew^alunck. 

A large pond in the S. W. part of Lunenburg, on the 
boundary line of Leominster. 



Vaughan, Hill. 

A hill in the northwestern part of Bolton. 

Hon. Henry S. Nourse in an address on Indian names before 
the Clinton Historical Society, said ' ' it was first known to early 
settlers as Van's or Vahan's hill, and as no white man of 
that name appears here, or even in the bay towns, as an early 
settler, ' ' he believed the name to be of Indian origin. 



Wabaquasset, Wabaquassuck. 

Name applied to " a tract west of the Quinebaug river north 
of a Ime running northwesterly from the junction of the Quine- 
baug and Assawaga rivers. ' ' (Miss Lamed 's History of Wind- 
ham Co., 1, page 1.) A small portion of this tract was probably 
in Worcester county. This was the country of the Wabbaquasset 
Indians, who probably were a part of the Nipmuck tribe. It 
was the original name of Woodstock. 

" John Pynchon, 1675, wrote the name Wabaquassic, which 
might be interpreted ' White stone, ' but Eliot (in Mass. Arch. 
Indians, 1-146) has Wabuhquoshish, which is certainly the equiva- 
lent of AbockquosHnash, the mats for covering the house." 
(R. Williams) (Trumbull's I. N. Conn.) Trumbull also says, 
' ' The name originally belonged to some particular locality 
where the Indians obtained flags used for making mats. ' ' The 
hills of Wabaquasset were famous even in earliest Colonial 
days for their yield of corn, and it was a Wabaquasset Indian 

49 



INDIAN NAMES 



who, when our forefathers were in want of bread, soon after 
their landing, carried a bushel and a half of corn upon his back 
the whole way from the south part of Worcester county to 
Boston for the relief of the inhabitants. (Wore. Mag., 1, p. 
143 ; Miss Larned's Hist, of Windham Co., 1, p. 2.) 



Wacuntug, Wacantuck, Wacatuc. 

The Indian name of land about Uxbridge. 

This name may be a corruption of Wongun-tuck-et — ' At 
the bend of the river. ' The name could appropriately be ap- 
plied to parts of the Blackstone, West, or Mumford rivers. 

" There is yet another praying town in the Nipmuck coun- 
try called Waeuntug. It lieth about ten miles from Hassana- 
mesitt to the south of this place." (Daniel Gookin, Mass. 
Hist. Coll., series 1, vol. 1, p. 194.) 



Wachusett, Wadchusett. 

A mountain in Princeton. The same name is also given to 
a brook in Princeton, and to a small lake in Princeton and 
Westminster. The name, which signifies ' near ' or 'in the 
vicinity ' of the mountain, has been transferred to the mountain 
itself. 

Wadchu, mountain, with the locative suffix, set, ' near. ' 



Watchusecic. 

Hill in Uxbridge, mentioned in an address at Uxbridge by 
Hon. Henry Chapin in 1864. In this form it is probably a 
corruption. It is very similar to "Wachusett" in Princeton 
and may be a diminutive, meaning 'at' or ' near the little hill. ' 

(See Wachusett.') 

50 



INDIAN NAMES 



Wallamanumpscook. 

Mentioned as a boundary in Indian deed of Rutland, Dec. 
22, 1686 (Middlesex Reg. of Deeds, libro 16, page 511, Apr. 
14, 1714). 

This name is very similar to WuUamanick with the addition 
of ' ' umps ' ' and possibly may have designated ' a place where a 
rock rose from red paint ground' (see WuUamanicTc) ; ompsk, 
" standing or upright rock, ' ' ock, ' ground' or ' place. ' 



Wallum. 

Pond and hill, southwest part of Douglas, the pond ex- 
tending into Burrillville, R. I. "So called from a Quinebaug 
captain, whose name (meaning * The Fox' Peq. A'wumpsy was 
variously written : Allums, Alluinps, Hyems, Hyemps, lams, 
etc. — Conn. Col. Rec, IV, 272, 333, 351 (Trumbull). 

2. Alujn pond, in the N. W. part of Sturbridge, and Little 
AUum pond in the N. E. part of Holland, Mass., sources of 
the Quinebaug river. 

"The Indian proprietors of Quaboag, now Brookfield, had 
given to the Rev. John Eliot, late of Roxbuiy, Clerk, deceased, 
' ' a tract of land at a place known as ' Alum ponds ' lying in 
the wilderness west of Brookfield, of one thousand acres, as a 
tribute of their affection for him, ' ' date of the grant Sept. 27, 
1655. This grant was confirmed by the legislature in 1715 to 
John Eliot, his grandson." (Mrs. Freeland, Hist, of Oxford.) 

(See WuUamanick.') 



Wanchatopick, Wonketopick. 

Boundary in Indian deed of Dec. 22, 1686, from John 
Wiser alias Qualapunit et al. to Henry Willard et al. land 

51 



INDIAN NAMES 



under general name of Naquag "running north to Quenibeek 
and to Wonhetopich. ' ' 

Rutland or WanchatopecJc pond on the S. W. border of 
Princeton. (Hanaford, Hist, of Princeton.) 

Wanommock, Wanomchouck. 

Ponds described in Lieut. Fairbank's Journal as "called 
thirty miles from Lancaster." (E. R. of L., Nourse, p. 219.) 
Wenomin-auke, ' Grape land, ' or ' Grape country. ' 
Wenomeneash, 'Grapes.' (R. W., p. 91.) 

Wanoosnoc. 

The name of a road in Fitchburg. 
(See Monoosnoc.') 

Wapososhequash. 

A hill a mile or two west of what is now Woodstock hill, 
Wabbaqnasset (Miss Lamed, Hist, of Windham Co., vol. 1, p. 
10). 

Watananock. 

Another name for the Nashua river. 

'■'■ Naslimvay OT Watananock river." (Colonial Records, 4, 
part 11, p. 569.) I can find no satisfactory translation for this 
name. 

Dr. Trumbull says, in regard to the derivation of the name 
^^Weantinock, " " the equivalent of Chip. Waianatanaug , ' where 
the water whirls' (Baraja). It may, however, designate the 
place where the river winds about the hill — Waen-adn-auke, or 
'land about the hill.'" (Trumbull, I. N. Conn., p. 80.) 
Watananoek may have the same derivation. The termination 

52 



INDIAN NAMES 



in its present form " ock" certainly applies to land rather than 
to water, in the Natick tongue. 



Wataquadock. 

" By which the great ridge which bounds the Nashaway 
valley on the east has ever been known.' ' (Bibl. of Lancastri- 
ana, Nourse, p. 71.) 

Hill in the S. W. part of Bolton, also name of a brook prob- 
ably taken from the name of the hill. First mentioned in Lan- 
caster Records, in 1655. 

The name I believe may be a corruption of WuttuhqoTiteuk, 
Wuttuhq, ' Branches of trees, ' or ' wood for fuel, ' — ohteuk, a 
' field or land which is cultivated, ' signifying a tract of open 
land over which fallen trees were scattered — ' a wood-land. ' 

2. A hill, pond and brook in Brimfield. 



Watatick. 

Name of mountain in N. E. part of Ashbumham, also Little 
Watatick mountain ; also name of pond near the mountain. 

This name, probably, is a corruption of Wetu-tick, ' wigwam 
brook, ' a brook on which the Indians lived. The name probably 
first applied to the large stream near the mountain, and after- 
ward applied to the mountain and pond. Dr. Trumbull gives 
as the probable meaning of Weataug^ from Weetauog, or Wetu- 
auke, signifying 'wigwam place ' (T., I. N. Conn., p. 80). 



Washwantohminunk, Washwanto^vno^vmo^v. 

A hill in Woodstock, Conn., but very near the Massachu- 
setts line. (Map in Miss Lamed 's Hist, of Windham Co., 
vol. 1.) 

53 



INDIAN NAMES 



Waushacum. 

The name of two large ponds in Sterling, on the Worcester 
& Nashua Railroad, near the Sterling Camp-ground. 

Roger Williams gives Wechecum as the Indian name for the 
sea, and this probably is the same word. 

Dr. Usher Parsons, in his "Indian Names of Places in 
Rhode Island," says, "In Narraganset dialect springs were 
called Watchkecum. ' ' 



Wecobaug, Wicabaug, Wickaboag. 

A pond in the western part of West Brookfield, ' ' and has 
one large outlet into the river twenty or thirty rods in length, 
called LasJiaivay (Whitney's Wore. County, 79). Tradition 
says it meant "sweet water." If so, probably hovawehon, 
' it is sweet, ' and paug, ' pond. ' " Wequa-paug means ' at the 
end of the pond. ' " (Trumbull, Indian Names in Conn., 84.) 

In deed of Shattoocquis to Lieut. Thomas Cooper, Nov. 
10th, 1665, mentioned as a boundary, " & soe westwards off to 
ye North end of Wecobaug Pond." (Hampden Co. Records, 
liber A, folio 18.) 

Wickabaug, the Indian village, now West Brookfield. (Quin- 
abaug Soc. Leaflets, No. 7, Levi B. Chase.) 

Wekapekatonnuc, Wikapokoto^vnow. 

A hill mentioned in the original deed of Leicester as one of 
the boundaries. On the map "as first laid out in 1714-17," 
made by the Hon. Jas. A. Denny, the western boundary as de- 
scribed in the original deed of Towtaid is not given. The mean- 
ing of the name is very obscure, but I would suggest Wequac- 
pohqutae-uc, ' the point of land where they divide iu two, ' 

54 



INDIAN NAMES 



probably referring to some hill in tbe northern part of Charlton, 
or in Spencer, between the branches of some brook. 

'♦And westerly, the most southermost corner, upon a little 
pond called Paupakquamcock, then to a hill called Wikapoko- 
townow." (Washburn, Hist, of Leicester, appendix.) 



Wequaes, Ueques. 

Mentioned as a boundary in the Indian deed of Hardwick 
in 1686. "And soe up northerly unto a place called Wequaes. " 
(Hampden Co. Records, liber D, folio 237.) Uhquae signifies 
♦ at the point or extremity of, ' ahquae, ' on the other end. ' 



Whipsuppenicke, Whipsufferadge. 

The land granted to the settlers of Marlboro, "became 
known as the Whipsuppeniek or more commonly the Whipi^suf- 
feradge Plantation from the Indian name of the hill which lies 
a mile or so south of Ohommokamesit.''^ { DeForest, Hist, of 
Marlboro, p. 14.) This grant was increased later, and what 
was then known as Marlboro now constitutes Southborough, 
most of Westborough and Northborough and a part of Hudson. 

Wickapicket. 

A brook rising in Sterling, flows through the northwestern 
part of Lancaster into the north branch of the Nashua river. Dr. 
Trumbull, referring to Wecuppe'r^iee, a small river in Connec- 
ticut, writes : ' ' Tradition says that Wiekapema is the name of 
an Indian chief who lives on the place.' ' "His name means 
Basswood, or the Linden, a tree highly valued by the Indians, 
from which they make ropes and mats. The ivikopi of the In- 
dians was the bast of the Germans and English (corrupted to 
bass)." (Trumbull, I. N. Coim., page 81.) 

55 



INDIAN NAMES 



I would suggest tliat the Lancaster name might be derived 
from Wikopi-auke-et, ' the place where lindens are. ' The word, 
auke signifying 'land ' or 'ground ' or 'place.' In the early 
history of Lancaster the name is spelled six different ways, but 
Henry S. Nourse, of Lancaster, gave this spelling, and his au- 
thority is undoubted. Wequapauget, ' at the end of the pond. ' 



Wiccopee. 

A name of a pass in Dutchess Co., N. Y., also of a pond 
in Putnam Co., N. Y., also a name of a New York tribe of 
Indians. 



Wigw^am. 

A name given to a hill on the western shore of lake Quin- 
sigamond by the early planters. "It was probably a favorite 
place of residence for the Indians who ranged along the shores 
of the lake for fish and game. ' ' (Lincoln 's History of 
Worcester.) 

In this form it is not properly the Indian name of the hill, 
and I have found no name by which the Indians designated it. 
We find the name Wetayig, in Connecticut, which Trumbull 
says ' ' seems to denote a place where the Indians lived or had 
their wigwams (wetu-auke, ' wigwam, place'), ' ' and also wetau- 
wancbu, mountain. 

Also name of hill in the southwestern part of Mendon, and 
the same name has been used quite frequently throughout New 
England. 



Winnimissett, Wenimisset. 

A brook rising in the southern part of New Braintree, flow- 
ing north into the Ware river. Also name of Indian town for- 

56 



INDIAN NAMES 



merly on the brook. Possibly from Weenomissuck, ' grape vine 
brook, ' or Weenomisset, ' near the grape vine ' — referring to 
some well known grape vine in this vicinity — from Weenoin, 
' a grape, ' and ' Weeiio^ms, ' vine. 

In this neighborhood was located the swamp — the scene of 
Capt. Wheeler's and Capt. Hutchinson's memorable surprise 
and defeat by the Indians Aug. 2nd, 1675. 

Capt. Edw. Hutchinson was the first person buried in the 
old burying ground in INIarlborough, Ochoocangansett, Aug. 19, 
1675. 



Wombemesiscook, Wombemesisecook, Wombem- 
sicunck, Wombomesscock. 

The Indian name of the land about Hardwick. Probably a 
corruption of Wompimish-auke, the chestnut tree country, ' the 
place of the chestnut trees' (^Wompomineash, 'chestnuts,' R. 
W., p. 89). "The principal growth of wood (in Hardwick) 
is oak, chestnut and walnut. " (Whitney, p. 176.) 

Land near Quabaug, commonly known by the name of Wom- 
bemesiscock. (Hampden Co. Records, liber D, folio 237.) 



Wonchesix. 

This name is found in a deposition made by Thos. Wilder 
in 1681 — refers to land left by Jno. Prescott, Sen. to his eldest 
son, " fourty acors of land nere Wonchesix' ' (Middlesex court 
files). Probably in Clinton near Washacujn (see Woonkseckoek- 
sett). 



Woonksechocksett, Wonksacoxet, Ocsechoxit, 
Chocksett. 

Name applied to land about Sterling. 
57 



INDIAN NAMES 



Wonksis-auke-8et. Might mean ' near the place of foxes, ' 
' Fox country. ' 

Wopov^age. 

Erroneously given in Nason 's Massachusetts Gazetteer and 
in Hayward 's Gazetteer of New England as the Indian name of 
Milford. Mr. Adin Ballou states in his history of Milford (p. 
14) that he consulted Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull in regard to 
this name, who wrote to him that it was the Indian name of 
Milford, Conn., never of Milford, Mass. 

Derived from Weepwoi-auk, " the crossing place." 

WuUamanick. 

A hill in Brookfield north of Quabaug pond near Five Mile 
river, mentioned as a boimdaiy of Brookfield in the Indian 
deed from Sattoockquis to Lieut. Thos. Cooper, Nov. 10, 1665 
(Mass. Hist. Coll., series 1, vol. 1, p. 269). The root of this 
name with variations (Wallam, WoUam, WuUam, Willim, 
Alum) is found in a number of Indian place names in Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut. 

Eoger Williams, in the " Key to the Indian Language" (p. 
154) , translates ' ' Wunnam " " Their red painting which they 
most delight in. ' ' The Nipmucks used the letter L for the 
Narragansett N. Mr. Harry Wright tells me that the Indians 
about Hudson Bay use the word Woloman or Wolomon as mean- 
ing something red, not a synonym for red, but for something 
colored red. The gum which they use on their boats and which 
they color red they called Woloman. I believe the name Wul- 
laman-ick signified 'Red Paint Country, ' a place where they 
found red earth which they used for their painting. Wala- 
manups Falls at Indian Orchard, Mass. Walaman-ompsh^ ' Red 
colored upright rocks, ' and a ledge of bright red sandstone, I 
am informed, runs for two miles along the falls and rapids. 

58 



INDIAN NAMES 



Wunnashowatuckqut, Showatuckqut. 

"The country of the Wunnashowatuckoogs mentioned by 
Roger Williams in 1637 as confederates of the Peqiiots. They 
were neighbors of the Wusquowhananawkits (i. e., people of 
the Pigeon Country)." "Who are the furthermost Nipnet 
men." (Mass. Hist. Coll., v. 1, pp. 188, 193, 197, 207.) 

In Worcester county, Mass., " at the crotch of the river," 
as the name denotes probably at the forks of the Blackstone 
river, or perhaps between Quinebaug and French rivers." (J. 
H. T., I. N. in Conn., p. 91.) 

WusquoAvhanawkits. 

" People of the Pigeon country. ' ' 
"Who are the furthermost Nipnet men. " 
(^Wuskoivhan^ 'Pigeon,' R. W.) Probably near the forks 
of the Blackstone. 

(See Wunnashowatuckqut.^ 



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